‘Future-proof’ – Pundit argues Spurs don’t need signings in key area this January

Noel Whelan has argued that Antonio Conte does not need any reinforcements in the midfield during January, given the quality options that he already has at his disposal.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur have been two of Tottenham’s most consistent players in the first part of their campaign, with the pair’s partnership going from strength-to-strength.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Both players have made themselves undroppble and Conte will be hoping that the pair return unscathed from the World Cup in Qatar.

Meanwhile, summer signing Yves Bissouma initially struggled to break into the team during the first couple of months of the campaign but the Mali international finished the first part of the season strongly, putting in the sort of performances we saw from him in a Brighton shirt.

Oliver Skipp did not get as much game time as he would have liked after recovering from a foot injury at the start of the campaign and the 22-year-old will be hoping to impress Conte and his coaching staff when they resume training over the coming weeks.

Football Insider reported this month that Spurs plan to open talks over a new contract with Hojbjerg soon, and Whelan believes that tying the Dane down is a no-brainer for the North London club.

The pundit suggested that Tottenham do not need to sign a midfielder anytime soon if the former Southampton man puts pen to paper on a new deal.

When asked about the reports regarding a new contract for Hojbjerg, the former Coventry City winger told Football Insider: “I think that midfield is future-proof if that deal can be done.

“Conte doesn’t need to look to far now in terms of a new central midfielder – even if he wants more players in the transfer market. Hojbjerg, Bissouma, and Bentancur – they’re three of the best in the Premier League.

“Hojbjerg has surpassed every expectation that I had of him. He’s got better and better, and he’s probably now first on the teamsheet for Tottenham.

“It goes to show how much he’s developed. I think they can’t afford to let him walk away so a new contract is definitely the smart move there.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It takes a unique skill set to play as a central midfielder in Conte’s system and Hojbjerg is one of the few players who has the attributes to do that, given his engine and his ability to contribute in all phases of play. So, it is not at all surprising that the club want to tie the Dane down to a new deal.

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